Search for man who shot at deputies continues, authorities say

FROSTPROOF - The search for a 20-year-old man, who shot at deputies Saturday during a chase, continues, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Eleno Suarez, accused of being involved in an armed home invasion, robbery and carjacking in July in Frostproof where Suarez lived, authorities said.

Early Saturday morning, deputies found Suarez at a convenience store and tried to stop him in his car. Suarez kept going and deputies began to chase after his car. During the pursuit, Suarez fired multiple shots at deputies while driving the car, authorities said. There were no injuries reported. Several other law enforcement agencies also responded to the scene.

Suarez ultimately lost control of the car, the sheriff's office said in a statement, and deputies were able to apprehend five passengers. Suarez, however, fled on foot.

Suarez now faces charges of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer and is considered armed and dangerous, authorities said.

On Sunday, the Hardee County Sheriff's Office received information that Suarez had contacted a resident asking for assistance and that he may still be in the Avon Park area, Polk County Sheriff's office authorities said in a prepared statement.

The Hardee County Sheriff's Office advised Polk County deputies and both agencies began a search of the area, and a command post and perimeter were established. At one point, deputies received new information about Suarez possibly being at a residence on Constitution Lane in Frostproof, authorities said. Deputies responded and located Jesus Jaramillo, 21, the second wanted suspect in the July incident, authorities said. Jaramillo was arrested and has been booked into the Polk County Jail.

A third suspect from the July incident, Malcolm Lewis, 19, was in the Ford Focus with Suarez on Saturday while he was fleeing and shooting at deputies, authorities said. Lewis is in custody, they add.

There is no command post in the Avon Park area Monday.

"Deputies continue to search for Suarez, however, there is no single designated position from which deputies are arriving to and being dispatched from," the news release stated.

"We are asking for your help in locating a very dangerous subject," said Sheriff Grady Judd in a statement released Saturday night. "If you will shoot at armed deputies, you will shoot at anyone. We need him in custody before anyone else falls victim to this nasty thug. If you see him or know him call law enforcement immediately, he is very dangerous."

Anyone with information about Suarez's whereabouts is urged to contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

The five passengers with Suarez, including Lewis, in the car were arrested on charges that include armed carjacking and resisting arrest without violence.